It will be interesting to see what sort of coverage and viewing figures the FA Cup semi-finals get when they go head-to-head with the Premiership this weekend. Portsmouth and Cardiff start as favourites but that is hardly an enviable position given the number of upsets in this season’s competition.
Portsmouth will probably bide their time looking for West Brom to push forward. Certainly there is no doubt about the Albion’s ability to score in the Championship (78 so far) but their defence does leak with 51 goals against in 40 games.
If you are a Barnsley supporter it must really be a case of nearly the best of times and nearly the worst of times – Barnsley have such a long history they have seen better and also worst. Even so their fantastic Cup wins over Liverpool and Chelsea have not earned them any easy points as they try to avoid the drop to League One.
One win in nine league games means that goal difference is the only thing keeping the Yorkshire team from the relegation zone. Cardiff harbours no such threat from relegation and have been able to maintain some decent league form during their Cup run to the point that they still retain a faint hope of securing a promotion play-off spot.
Prediction – West Brom vs. Cardiff in the Final.
The bookending of the Premiership match between Arsenal and Liverpool by the quarter final of the Champions League takes a bit of the sheen of this weekend’s game. Will the managers choose to rest some players or will it be a case of the same again. Wenger says he has not given up on the title and so if that is true then we should see little change. After creating a five point gap with Everton Liverpool will not want to risk that number shrinking.
With Boro and Manchester City having little to play for – City may look to have an outside chance of a UEFA Cup spot but not based on recent form – Manchester United and Chelsea will be hoping to increase the gap on Arsenal and Liverpool.
At the relegation end of the table Wigan vs. Birmingham, Fulham vs. Sunderland are six pointers while Newcastle (a much happier Newcastle) would like to keep Reading below them and Villa needs to stop a run of three straight losses (and shut outs) against Bolton.
Sevilla versus Villarreal has the makings of a top class game as does Mallorca against Real Madrid. Villarreal are the form team at the moment although there is a train of thought that when Villarreal gets into a position to really challenge for some silverware that is when it starts to go all wobbly for them.
Mallorca have only one loss in their last their last twelve although seven finished as draws. What’s more David Guiza is cracking goals in at the moment for Mallorca and they have been known to give Real Madrid problems – Real came a cropper in the Copa del Rey this season.
"Arse were the better team, no ifs, ands or buts about it."
Define "better".
1) A subjective assessment of relative quality?
2) Or relative to achieving the best-case outcome from the match?
If you mean #1-- as I'm sure you do-- then that's nice, but what does it matter? The match is history, and ranking the teams by "better" and "worse" only has historical interest.
If you mean #2-- and I know you don't-- then consider that a 1:1 away draw was a better result for LFC, than was a 1:1 draw at home prior to a European trip to Anfield for Arsenal.
Since LFC achieved a comparatively better result than Arsenal, that means LFC must have been the "better" team in the match.
After all, the whole point of playing is to achieve results, not to subjectively assess relative quality ...
1) (verb): a) the act, in football, of appearing to be a drunk ballerina on ice by badly imitating the "Dying Swan" scene from the "Swan Lake" ballet; b) the act, in football, of dropping at the slightest tug as if one was suddenly and mortally wounded, in hopes of drawing a penalty;
2) (verb): either of the acts in 1), carried out as the result of a desperate realization that it is the only way one's team can hope to score;
3) (noun): an example of any such acts, particularly when it occurs in the dying stages of a match that one felt beforehand would be an easy win.
Syn.: "Ronaldo" (q.v.) and "Yak" (q.v.) -- but see "Usage notes" below.
Usage notes: A "Hleb" can be differentiated from both "Yak" and "Ronaldo"-style dives by its artistic touches derived from the ballet-influenced background of its practitioners, whereas a "Yak" will tend to a more comically pitiful aspect, and a "Ronaldo" to gross over-acting (similar to a child starved for adult attention and approval).
Etymological note: in both the Belorussian and Russian languages, "Hleb" (transliterated "Xleb" from Russian) means "bread". There is an inescapable logic to this: both bread and "Hleb" are sensitive to the slightest hint of mistreatment, and both risk dropping flat if not handled correctly.
"Did you catch Ronaldo's (you know, that player that is so overrated in some circles...mainly the envious Red Fans on the blog)flick behind his planted leg from a corner kick?
I don't recall anyone-- least of all LFC supporters-- calling Ronaldo "overrated" ...
I do, however, recall someone pointing out that Ronaldo is a primping, preening poser-- but that is not envy, those are facts!
As is also the fact that if he had not taken up football, Ronaldo could have had a great career with the Portuguese Olympic diving team ...
Painful facts for United fans, to be sure-- now is not the time for the boy's blemishes to distract attention from the carefully orchestrated media campaign currently issuing forth from OT to get Ronaldo anointed as the second coming ...
The physical "act" of taking a penalty is simple and static (formulaic), but the decision-making process (even subconscious) behind how that act is carried out by both participants is not.
"There is a complex amount of psychology every time a penalty taker faces a goalkeeper. They try to read each other's body language, and the best attempt to psych each other out with false cues ...
You can dream up a million theories on how to score them or save them ... But in the end a lot of it does just boil down to guesswork. Yours and theirs."
It is this constant "I expect that he will do X, since he expects that I will do Y, since I expect ..." interplay between the participants' expectations, where a unilateral change in strategy by one (without any corresponding change by the other) makes a sub-optimal outcome more likely for that player, that is key.
Which then brings us-- as you point out-- to actual decision-making, which is often not optimal (for many reasons: inexperience, fear of failure, over-confidence, etc). How consistently a player makes optimal decisions is one good test of his abilities, since unlike outcomes (penalties scored or saved), which are affected by randomness, decision-making is a pure reflection of his intent.
Last edited by Ursusarctos on April 3rd at 8:51 PM.
And in our "why can't those damn foreigners act like proper English boys and stop mouthing off in a bad accent" department:
From today's Fiver: "When Javier Mascherano was sent off for politely asking Steve Bennett why Fernando Torres had been booked for politely asking Steve Bennett for protection against the shoeing he was getting from Manchester United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic a couple of weeks ago, the Liverpool midfielder's subsequent irritation ended up costing him two weeks wages ... and a one-match ban...
It turns out that the [subsequent] punishment handed down by the FA - a two-match ban and GBP15,000 - wasn't quite as harsh as it seemed (although having to give Brian Barwick the price of a brand new Ford Focus just because you're foreign is still harsh). "Although we received a fair hearing we must now decide to appeal on the basis of inconsistency of Javier based on past precedents," huffed a Liverpool suit, failing to name the name: England's Ashley Cole."
One might comment that the credibility of a system of disciplinary justice depends a great deal upon justice not only being done, but also being seen to be done-- and that consistency, of which following precedent is the cornerstone, is an essential aspect of seeing justice done.
On the other hand, this is the FA we are talking about ... so "credibility" would seem a lost cause ...
WHO is the lucky opponent of Tottenham this weekend? I wish it were us. 4-0 stuffing of Tottenham is what we need. seems like a regular score these days since they won the carling cup.
Last edited by Thierry_Henry on April 3rd at 9:20 PM.
zzzz Walls of text which lack facts and are full of attempts at comedy the equivalent of a person who just likes to hear himself talk or in this case type?
do you really need 100 + words to analyze 12 words by someone else?
as for Pool fans who slagged Ronaldo that was Aldoray...
Hleb a diver? apparently the refs think so the last 3 times hes gone down they were all fouls and the only one that earned a penalty was the Bolton game.
you know what maybe the calls don't even out if your name is Hleb.
I think the best part of the Milan one is that the ref was also 5 yards away and should clearly see no contact on the ball and all leg... Wasn't a penalty but still a foul every other day of the week.
"Walls of text which lack facts etc., and so on ..."
Talking about walls of text and no facts ...
"do you really need 100 + words to analyze 12 words by someone else?"
The 12 words were by LGB-- and yet, no comment on my conclusions, just its length?!
So you agree-- LFC did get the better result from Wednesday ... and results are all that matter ... so the better team is the one with the better results ... so LFC was the better team ...
Or are you just bitter at the result?!
"as for Pool fans who slagged Ronaldo that was Aldoray"
Fair enough-- and since I'm going to get attacked for not showing due deference to the second coming, a brief, serious interlude ... no question, Ronaldo is a great player, but he would be an even greater player if he cut out the posing and diving. We'll see ...
"Hleb a diver?"
Oops, touched a sore spot there, didn't I?!
Last edited by Ursusarctos on April 3rd at 10:06 PM.
Henry14- Have I not given you enought objectivity as a Liverpool fan?
Just because I don't think Eboue is #### doesn't mean we lack it.
Oh and I think he is a terrible diver.
Ursus=I don't know why you're commenting back to me. Arsenal were the better team. If not for the ref or Bendtner we lose at least 2-1.
I know all red fans remember Stevie being fouled outside the box and not being called. It was def a make up call.
Reasons 1 and 2 don't matter. Reason 3 does- We looked #### against Arsenal because of the "Dynamic Duo".
Oh and to finish, we finished 1-1 not because of luck but because of Arsenal(...and the ref)
To be honest the one thing that Ursus is right on, is that it doesn't matter what we all think. Which is what he was trying to get at with his first post.
Theres a second leg no matter who played or who has the advantage!
And how many of the 24,000 seats not allocated to the two teams in each game are actually filled.
Look for blocks of empty seats in the Club Wembley sections and crowds of less than 80,000.
Portsmouth and Cardiff in the final.
Chelsea to win in Manchester and Liverpool on Saturday.
Sore spot? no, more that your comments are baseless. I can spout garbage too but thats not why I read this blog because I'm pretty sure other people don't want to read factless statements. I have no idea what your expectations of a player are but if the last two videos I have posted of Hleb being fouled make him a diver I'm at a loss to know what a cheater is anymore. Then again I even give Ronaldo a pass considering if you actually watch him play without a bias and jealousy hes justified going to ground as its pretty obvious he takes allot of punishment and the only way to defend himself is to make sure the ref knows. Take the fouls 40 yards away and the next thing you know the other team is collecting warnings and yellows he has more space to operate and he starts really shining.
here I found two candidates for your lexicon of football terms. Maybe you can add a part where the the player stays down and acts like hes injured wasting everyones time. What? Liverpool players are exempt? especially captains?
The hand over the face like hes been mortally wounded is the clincher.
Bobby: Might a tired Lhight Bhlues side be facing a Tangerine Nightmare at Tannadice this weekend? Could be the first time Celtic fans have cheered for anything in orange. But the right results would revive the SPL title race.
Ursus: I'll have another serving of sliced Hleb. Toasted, if you please.
Jay: There is no bigger Nancyboy in all of football than Fabregirl. And you wonder why it's mockingly known in England as Effeminates Stadium?
This is just Ar5ena1's long record of cheating coming home to roost.
You hear it every game they play, the other team's fans singing: 'Same old Ar5ena1. Always cheating.'
All this frilly noncing and poncing almost makes me nostalgic for the days they'd grind out results with their time-honoured 7-2-1 formation. Almost.
Moving on to matters more relevant to the continent you live on, how nice to see Ruud Hullit's Halaxy finally start to glitter. Beckham with his first goal, then returning the compliment by setting up Donovan.
Will be cheering for a shaky season for Blank Frank Yallop's colourless Quakers, as Toronto FC own their first-round draft pick next year.
We can wax poetic over whether it should have or shouldn't have been a penalty. But it WASN'T a penalty because it wasn't given. End of story.
I love how H14 can call me an #### for saying it shouldn't have been a penalty, especially when I said the EXACT OPPOSITE. H14, I know you don't have great command over the English language, but please read what someone says before you respond to it. It makes you look like you have Forrest Gump-level intellect.
I have a bit of a problem.
The polls are open for the Chelsea player of the year ,but I can't think of one ,maybe Carvalho.
Good piece on the Beeb about the Cardiff City team that won the cup in '27.
Hughie Ferguson ,who scored the only goal ,was sold to Dundee two years later for 700 pounds ,and within a year had committed suicide.
Not sure if that says anything about Dundee or not...
Arsene Whinger has spoken this morning in relation to the rumour that an unnamed premier league player helped throw a game for cash.
Quote:
""Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said any player proven to have accepted a bribe to throw a game should be banned for life.
"I believe that the most important thing is that our game is clean," Wenger said.
"It is surprising news and very bad news. I am convinced that if it is proven they should be banned for life.
"If one player has done that you have 99.9% of players who have never done it. But you have to convict the one player who has done that.
"It's not down to human nature. Everyone has to stand up for their own acts and take responsibility for what he is doing." ""
Shame he is not so decisive and adamant about some other areas of the beautiful game where he has more than a little influence.
Re Ronaldo's other occupation if he had not been a football player........diver yes may be but how about hairdresser, or ice dance skater or opera singer?
RedFan I seriously doubt your intellectual credentials.
Ursus- "better" means more attractive, more positive and more likely to score. What is hard to understand here. Take that negative #### somewhere else. 7 defensive players, really. Even Mourinho was never that dour. Should I doubt your capacity also?
Ringo- Carvalho yes, but it is still the Drog isn't it.
Game thrower has to be David Seaman. Good goalie one day, Kermit the Frog the next. Gave up some shocking goals, none moreso, or more entertaining, than this. And you can sing along:
It's got to be a Tottenham player. I bet. They seem to be low on intellect.
Redfan and TH14, I will test your intellect:
1) A train leaves Vancouver at 12:30, arrives Edmonton at 15:45. The distance between Vancouver and Edmonton is 650 km, what is the train speed?
2) I have 5 apples. I give 2 apples away. how many I am left with? :)
Last edited by Thierry_Henry on April 4th at 10:24 AM.
Ursusarctos: If you spent less time scanning dictionaries for opportunities to impress with language, and more actually watching the football, your judgement might improve. JayAlves even offered to help out - take a look at the video(s).
I realize this discussion forum is good practice for writing your PhD thesis on brown bears or whatever, though. Its just, well, the academic style is a little misplaced.
Theres a wage list out supposedly...
Darren Bent 95k pounds a week more then any player on Arsenal. Maybe he can loan Joe Lewis some money to finance some transfers this summer.
When it comes to hocley, I strongly support the Montreal Canadians.
Anyway, my predictions
Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
Villa 2-1 Bolton
Man. City 1-2 Chelsea
Newcastle 2-0 Reading
Blackburn 1-0 Tottenham
Fulham 1-3 Sunderland
Wigan 1-1 Birmingham
Borough 0-1 United
Everton 4-1 Derby
West Ham 2-0 Portsmouth.
Thank God we won't be inflicted with nonstop Leafs coverage throughout April before they inevitably would have been put to the sword in the first wound.
TH
Vancouver and Edmonton are about 1,200 kilometres apart, not 650 kilometres. I've done the drive a couple of times -- there's some beautiful scenery but it's looonnnng.
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